Washing machine

ABSTRACT

Provided is a washing machine having a wash aid box designed to prevent a liquid stored in the wash aid box from overflowing. The washing machine includes: a cabinet receiving a washing tub; and a wash aid box storing wash aid to be fed to the washing tub, wherein the wash aid box includes: a storage portion storing liquid to be fed to the wash aid box; and an overflow preventing portion preventing the liquid fed to the wash aid box from overflowing along an inner wall surface of the wash aid box.

This application claims the benefit of the Korean Application No.P2004-47428 filed on Jun. 24, 2004 which is hereby incorporated byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a washing machine, and moreparticularly, to a washing machine having a wash aid box to store washaid.

2. Discussion of the Related Art

Generally, a washing machine is an apparatus to get rid of a variety ofcontaminants adhered to laundry by a chemical interaction of detergentand rubbing of water current due to rotation of washing wing and drum.

Such a general washing machine includes a cabinet forming the exteriorof the washing machine, and a cylindrical washing tub disposed insidethe cabinet to receive laundry and washing water.

The tub includes an outer tub receiving washing water and a cylindricalinner tub rotatably disposed inside the outer tub to receive laundry andhaving a plurality of perforated holes formed at a wall surface thereofand through which the washing water passes. A pulsator is provided on abottom of the inner tub to rotate the laundry.

A top cover having an opening for entrance and exit of laundry at acentral portion thereof and a door for opening and closing the openingof the top cover are disposed at an upper portion of the cavity.

Meanwhile, a wash aid box storing wash aid such as decolorant or tanningproducts is disposed at an edge of the top cover having the opening forentrance and exit of laundry.

The wash aid box includes a storage portion where wash aid is stored,and a cap for opening and closing the storage portion. The cap has aninlet through which the wash aid is introduced.

As wash aid such as decolorant or tanning products is filled in the washaid box and then the washing machine starts to operate, washing water isintroduced into the wash aid box and mixed with the wash aid to dilutethe wash aid.

When the mixed solution of the wash aid and the washing water reaches apredetermined water level, it is supplied into the tub through an aidfeed tube formed in the wash aid box.

However, the related art wash aid box has a problem that the water fordiluting the wash aid overflows along an inner wall surface of the washaid box before the wash aid stored in the wash aid box is sufficientlydiluted by the washing water and supplied into the tub.

To this end, at the present, it is strongly requested to develop awashing machine including a wash aid box designed to prevent liquidsupplied into the inside of the wash aid box from overflowing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a washing machine thatsubstantially obviates one or more problems due to limitations anddisadvantages of the related art.

An object of the present invention is to provide a washing machineconstructed to prevent liquid supplied into a wash aid box fromoverflowing to an outside.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a washing machinehaving a wash aid box that can save water used to dilute wash aid bypreventing the water for dilution from overflowing prior to a sufficientdilution of the wash aid.

Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will beset forth in part in the description which follows and in part willbecome apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art uponexamination of the following or may be learned from practice of theinvention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention may berealized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in thewritten description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.

To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with thepurpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein,there is provided a washing machine including: a cabinet receiving awashing tub; and a wash aid box storing wash aid to be fed to thewashing tub, wherein the wash aid box includes: a storage portionstoring liquid to be fed to the wash aid box; and an overflow preventingportion preventing the liquid fed to the wash aid box from overflowingalong an inner wall surface of the wash aid box.

The wash aid box may further include an overflow wall which is disposedat a predetermined portion of a bottom of the storage portion and has apredetermined height, and along which the liquid as being excessivelyfed overflows such that a height level of the liquid stored in thestorage portion is kept below a predetermined height level.

The overflow preventing portion is disposed on a ceiling of the storageportion to prevent the liquid flowing along the inner wall surface ofthe storage portion from overflowing along the overflow wall.

For this purpose, the overflow preventing portion comprises an overflowpreventing rib protruded downward from the ceiling of the storageportion.

The storage portion may include: a base having the overflow wall; and acap disposed on the base, for opening or closing the storage portion.

The overflow preventing portion is disposed on a lower surface of thecap to prevent the liquid flowing along the inner wall surface of thestorage portion from overflowing along the overflow wall.

The overflow preventing portion may include an overflow preventing ribprotruded downward from the ceiling of the storage portion.

The wash aid box may further include a siphon tube for draining theliquid stored in the storage portion using a siphon principle.

The siphon tube is formed protruding upward from the bottom of thestorage portion.

The storage portion may further include a siphon cover covering thesiphon tube. At this time, the siphon cover is disposed on a ceiling ofthe storage portion.

The above washing machine may further include a gap formed between aninner circumferential surface of the siphon cover and an outercircumferential surface of the siphon tube, for causing a capillaryphenomenon.

The siphon tube has a height lower than that of the overflow wall.

In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a washingmachine including: a cabinet receiving a washing tub; and a wash aid boxstoring wash aid to be fed to the washing tub, wherein the wash aid boxincludes: a storage portion storing liquid to be fed to the wash aidbox; an overflow preventing portion preventing the liquid fed to thewash aid box from overflowing along an inner wall surface of the washaid box; and an overflow wall which is disposed at a predeterminedportion of a bottom of the storage portion at a predetermined height,and along which the liquid as being excessively fed overflows such thata height level of the liquid stored in the storage portion is kept belowa predetermined height level, wherein the storage portion includes: abase having the overflow wall; a cap disposed on the base, for openingor closing the storage portion, the cap having a wash aid slot; and awater feed portion through which water for diluting the wash aid is fed.

The cap has an upper surface which is inclined downward as it travels tothe wash aid slot.

The overflow preventing portion may include overflow preventing ribprotruded downward from a lower surface of the cap, for preventing theliquid fed to the storage portion from overflowing along the lowersurface of the cap and the overflow wall.

The overflow preventing rib is disposed between the water feed portionand the overflow wall.

The storage portion may further include: a siphon tube formed protrudingfrom the bottom of the base, for draining substance stored in thestorage portion using a siphon principle; and a siphon cover coveringthe siphon tube and forming a gap through which the liquid flows betweenthe siphon tube and the siphon cover.

Preferably, the siphon cover is disposed on the lower surface of thecap, and the siphon tube has a height lower than that of the overflowwall.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description of the present invention areexemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide furtherexplanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention andtogether with the description serve to explain the principle of theinvention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a washing machine having a wash aid boxaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an upper perspective view showing a cap of a wash aid box of awashing machine according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a lower perspective view showing a cap of a wash aid box of awashing machine according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a base of a wash aid box of awashing machine according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a base and a cap of a wash aidbox of a washing machine according to the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line I-I of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of thepresent invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be usedthroughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

An exemplary embodiment of a washing machine and a wash aid box providedin the washing machine will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1through 6.

Referring to FIG. 1, the washing machine includes a cabinet 110 formingthe exterior of the washing machine, and a washing tub (not shown)disposed inside the cabinet 110.

A top cover 120 having an opening 121 for entrance and exit of laundryand a door 130 for opening and closing the opening of the top cover 120are disposed at an upper portion of the cavity 110.

A control panel 140 provided with a variety of buttons for inputting anoperational condition of the washing machine and a display fordisplaying an operational state of the washing machine is disposed at arear portion of the top cover 140. And, a variety of electrical devicesare disposed inside the control panel 140.

In addition, a detergent box 150 for storing detergent is disposedbetween the opening 121 of the top cover 120 and the control box 140,i.e., at a rear side of the opening 121 for the entrance and exit oflaundry.

The washing tub includes a cylindrical outer tub (not shown) receivingwashing water and a cylindrical inner tub (not shown) disposed insidethe outer tub to receive laundry and rotated by a motor.

The inner tub has a plurality of perforated holes formed at a wallsurface thereof and through which the washing water passes. A pulsatoris provided on a bottom of the inner tub to rotate the laundry togetherwith washing water.

Meanwhile, a wash aid box constituting the washing machine of thepresent invention is disposed at a portion of the top cover 120.

In more detail, referring to FIGS. 2 through 6, the wash aid boxincludes a storage portion disposed at an edge of the top cover andstoring wash aid such as decolorant or tanning products, and an overflowpreventing portion for preventing liquid supplied to the wash aid boxfrom overflowing along an inner wall surface of the wash aid box.

The storage portion includes a base 210 and a cap 220 disposed above thebase 210 to open and close the storage portion. In more detail, a caphole (now shown) into which the cap is inserted is formed at a portionof the top cover 120 disposed above the base 210, i.e., at a ceiling ofthe storage portion.

Herein, it is preferable that the cap 220 has a wash aid slot 221through which wash aid is introduced. The cap 220 has an upper surfaceof which central portion is recessed to form a recess portion. Therecess portion is inclined downward as it travels toward a centralportion of the cap 220 and prevents introduced wash aid from splashingor overflowing.

Also, a guide passage 222 for guiding the wash aid to the wash aid slotis formed at a predetermined portion of the wash aid slot. Accordingly,the cap 220 has a lower surface shaped in a convex form.

In addition, the cap 220 has an edge curved with a curvature, and theedge of the cap 220 is mounted on an edge of the cap hole shapedcorresponding to the edge of the cap 220. The cap 220 is formedcorresponding to the surface of the top cover 120 such that the cap 220as mounted is not protruded upward from the top cover 120.

A water feed portion 211 through which water for diluting the wash aidintroduced into the storage portion is fed is formed at a bottom of thestorage portion, i.e., at one sided portion of the base 210. At theother sided portion of the base 210, in more detail, at an opposite sideto the water feed portion 211, an overflow wall 212 having apredetermined height and along which excessively fed liquid overflowssuch that water level of the liquid stored in the storage portion iskept below a predetermined level is formed.

Accordingly, at an edge of the other sided portion of the base 210, anoverflow chamber 213 formed by the overflow wall 212 is provided. Whenthe level of the wash aid fed to the storage portion is higher than anupper end of the overflow wall 212, an excessive amount of the wash aidoverflows along the overflow wall 212 and is introduced into the washingtub through a drainage hole formed at the overflow chamber 213.

A siphon tube 230 is disposed on a bottom of the base 210 between thewater feed portion 211 and the overflow wall 212 so as to drainsubstance stored in the storage portion, e.g., the wash aid solutionusing a siphon principle.

The siphon tube 230 is shaped in a cylinder having a perforated holeperforated in a length direction, is protruded vertically upward fromthe bottom and is formed integrally with the base 210. A lower end ofthe siphon tube 230 is connected with a wash aid feed line (not shown)connected to the washing tub. A siphon cover 240 is formed integrallywith the cap 220 on a lower surface of the cap 220 to cover the siphontube 230.

The siphon cover 240 is shaped in a cylinder of which lower end isopened such that the siphon tube is inserted into an inner side of thesiphon cover 240, and is disposed at a portion adjacent to the overflowwall of an edge of the cap 220.

Between an outer circumferential surface of the siphon tube 230 and aninner circumferential surface of the siphon cover 240, a gap throughwhich the wash aid solution passes is formed. In addition, between theupper end of the siphon tube 230 and the upper end of the siphon cover240, a gap is formed such that the wash aid solution is introduced intothe siphon tube 230.

For this purpose, a gap maintenance protrusion 231 is formed on theouter circumferential surface of the siphon tube 240 to maintain a sidegap and an upper gap between the outer circumferential surface of thesiphon tube 230 and the siphon cover 240.

Of course, it may be designed that an interval for occurrence of acapillary phenomenon is provided between the outer circumferentialsurface of the siphon tube 230 and the inner circumferential surface ofthe siphon cover 240.

When the cap 220 having the siphon cover 240 constructed as above ismounted on the cap hole of the top cover 120, the siphon tube 230 isinserted into an inside of the siphon cover 240.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 6, gaps for flow of the wash aid solutionare respectively formed between the lower end of the siphon cover andthe base, between the outer circumferential surface of the siphon tube230 and the inner circumferential surface of the siphon cover, andbetween the upper end of the siphon tube 230 and the upper end of thesiphon cover 240. Accordingly, the wash aid solution is fed to thewashing tub through the siphon tube 230.

In the present invention, it is preferable that the siphon tube 230 isformed having a height lower than the overflow wall 212 such that thewash aid solution in the storage portion is fed to the washing tubthrough the siphon tube 230 before overflowing along the overflow wall212.

In an example, the siphon tube 230 is formed having a height lower by 3mm than the height of the overflow wall 212 and a gap of about 5 mm isformed between the upper end of the siphon tube 230 and the upper end ofthe siphon cover 240.

In the meanwhile, the overflow preventing portion is disposed on aceiling of the storage portion to prevent the liquid in the storageportion from overflowing along an inner wall surface of the storageportion and the outer wall of the wash aid box or from overflowing alongthe overflow wall 212 and being leaked through the overflow chamber 213.

In more detail, the overflow preventing portion includes an overflowpreventing rib 250, which is protruded downward from the ceiling of thestorage portion, in particular, from the lower surface of the cap 220.The overflow preventing rib 250 has a predetermined height and preventsthe liquid such as water, wash aid or the like from overflowing alongthe overflow wall 212 and being drained, or from overflowing a sidewallof the base.

The overflow preventing rib 250 is shaped in a protrusion connecting theupper end of the siphon cover 240 provided at one edge of the cap 200 tothe other edge of the cap 200.

More preferably, the overflow preventing rib 250 is disposed between thewater feed portion 211 and the overflow wall 212. By doing so, the waterfed by the water feed portion 211 is prevented from flowing to theoverflow wall 212 or the sidewall of the base 210 along the ceiling ofthe storage portion.

Referring to FIGS. 3 through 6, the wash aid box provided in the washingmachine of the present invention has the storage portion formed by thetop cover 120 and the base 210 disposed below the top cover 120.

The base 210 is disposed below one edge of the top cover 120, and thecap 220 for opening or closing the cap hole formed in the top cover 120is disposed at an upper portion of the base 210.

In addition, the side portion of the base 210 is curved corresponding toa side shape of the top cover 120 and a shape of the hole for entranceand exit of laundry, and the water feed portion 211 is disposed at arear side portion of the base 210.

The overflow wall 212 is disposed at a position spaced apart by apredetermined distance from a front end of the base 210 to form theoverflow chamber 213, and the siphon tube 230 is disposed at a cornerwhere one end of the overflow wall 212 meets with the side portion ofthe base 210.

In addition, the siphon cover 240 is disposed at a front portion of thecap 220 to cover the siphon tube 230 when the cap 220 is mounted on thecap hole.

Meanwhile, the overflow preventing rib 250 connecting the upper end ofthe siphon cover 240 and the edge of the cap 220 is formed at a frontportion of the lower surface of the cap 220. Accordingly, the overflowpreventing rib 250 prevents the liquid in the wash aid box fromoverflowing to an outside of the wash aid box along the ceiling of thestorage portion, in particular, along the convex lower surface of thecap 220.

Operation of the washing machine provided with the wash aid boxconstructed as above will now be described.

First, the cap 220 is mounted and the wash aid such as decolorant,tanning product or the like is supplied to an inside of the wash aid boxthrough the wash aid slot 221. At this time, the wash aid passes throughthe wash aid slot 221 without overflowing or splashing due to theconcave shape of the upper surface of the cap 220 and the guide passage222.

After the wash aid such as decolorant or tanning product is filled inthe wash aid box, washing water is introduced into the wash aid boxthrough the water feed portion 211. As water level of the fed washingwater is elevated, the fed washing water is mixed with the wash aid todilute the wash aid.

When the height level of the liquid fed to the wash aid box, i.e., theheight level of the wash aid solution reaches the height level of thesiphon tube 230, the wash aid solution is fed to the washing tub throughthe siphon tube 230 due to the siphon principle.

In the present invention, since the siphon tube 230 and the siphon cover240 are designed to cause the capillary phenomenon, even though theheight level of the wash aid solution does not reach the height of thesiphon tube 230, the wash aid solution starts to be fed through thesiphon tube 230.

Meanwhile, in case water or wash aid is excessively supplied to the washaid box and thus the height level of the wash aid solution exceeds theheight of the overflow wall, the water or wash aid overflows along theoverflow wall 212 and is drained to a washing tub through a drain hole214 formed in the overflow chamber 213 before the wash aid box iscompletely full of the water or the wash aid solution.

While liquid such as water, wash aid solution and the like is fed, ifsome of the liquid flows along the ceiling of the storage portion,particularly, along the lower surface of the convex cap protrudeddownward, the overflow preventing rib 250 shields the flow of the liquidsuch that the flowing liquid is not drained to an outside.

The washing machine having the wash aid box according to the presentinvention has the following effects.

First, since the overflow preventing unit is provided in the wash aidbox, liquid such as washing water, decolorant and the like is preventedfrom overflowing along the ceiling of the storage portion, inparticular, along the lower surface of the cap.

Secondly, since the water fed through the water feed portion isprevented from overflowing before diluting the wash aid, the water todilute the wash aid is saved.

Thirdly, since a gap causing a capillary phenomenon is formed betweenthe siphon tube and the siphon cover, even through the height level ofthe wash aid solution does not reach the height of the siphon tube, thewash aid solution starts to be fed to the washing tub at a proper waterheight level.

Fourthly, since the overflow wall for maintaining the wash aid solutionbelow a constant height level is formed on the bottom of the wash aidbox, the wash aid solution is prevented from overflowing.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made in the present invention. Thus,it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications andvariations of this invention provided they come within the scope of theappended claims and their equivalents.

1. A washing machine comprising: a cabinet receiving a washing tub; anda wash aid box storing wash aid to be fed to the washing tub, whereinthe wash aid box comprises: a storage portion storing liquid to be fedto the wash aid box; and an overflow preventing portion preventing theliquid fed to the wash aid box from overflowing along an inner wallsurface of the wash aid box.
 2. The washing machine of claim 1, whereinthe wash aid box further comprises an overflow wall which is disposed ata predetermined portion of a bottom of the storage portion and has apredetermined height, and along which the liquid as being excessivelyfed overflows such that a height level of the liquid stored in thestorage portion is kept below a predetermined height level.
 3. Thewashing machine of claim 2, wherein the overflow preventing portion isdisposed on a ceiling of the storage portion to prevent the liquidflowing along the inner wall surface of the storage portion fromoverflowing along the overflow wall.
 4. The washing machine of claim 3,wherein the overflow preventing portion comprises an overflow preventingrib protruded downward from the ceiling of the storage portion.
 5. Thewashing machine of claim 2, wherein the storage portion comprises: abase having the overflow wall; and a cap disposed on the base, foropening or closing the storage portion.
 6. The washing machine of claim5, wherein the overflow preventing portion is disposed on a lowersurface of the cap to prevent the liquid flowing along the inner wallsurface of the storage portion from overflowing along the overflow wall.7. The washing machine of claim 6, wherein the overflow preventingportion comprises an overflow preventing rib protruded downward from theceiling of the storage portion.
 8. The washing machine of claim 2,wherein the wash aid box further comprises a siphon tube for drainingthe liquid stored in the storage portion using a siphon principle. 9.The washing machine of claim 8, wherein the siphon tube is formedprotruding upward from the bottom of the storage portion.
 10. Thewashing machine of claim 9, wherein the storage portion furthercomprises a siphon cover covering the siphon tube.
 11. The washingmachine of claim 10, wherein the siphon cover is disposed on a ceilingof the storage portion.
 12. The washing machine of claim 11, furthercomprising a gap formed between an inner circumferential surface of thesiphon cover and an outer circumferential surface of the siphon tube,for causing a capillary phenomenon.
 13. The washing machine of claim 9,wherein the siphon tube has a height lower than that of the overflowwall.
 14. A washing machine comprising: a cabinet receiving a washingtub; and a wash aid box storing wash aid to be fed to the washing tub,wherein the wash aid box comprises: a storage portion storing liquid tobe fed to the wash aid box; an overflow preventing portion preventingthe liquid fed to the wash aid box from overflowing along an inner wallsurface of the wash aid box; and an overflow wall which is disposed at apredetermined portion of a bottom of the storage portion at apredetermined height, and along which the liquid as being excessivelyfed overflows such that a height level of the liquid stored in thestorage portion is kept below a predetermined height level, wherein thestorage portion comprises: a base having the overflow wall; and a capdisposed on the base, for opening or closing the storage portion, thecap having a wash aid slot; and a water feed portion through which waterfor diluting the wash aid is fed.
 15. The washing machine of claim 14,wherein the cap has an upper surface which is inclined downward as ittravels to the wash aid slot.
 16. The washing machine of claim 15,wherein the overflow preventing portion comprises an overflow preventingrib protruded downward from a lower surface of the cap, for preventingthe liquid fed to the storage portion from overflowing along the lowersurface of the cap and the overflow wall.
 17. The washing machine ofclaim 16, wherein the overflow preventing rib is disposed between thewater feed portion and the overflow wall.
 18. The washing machine ofclaim 14, wherein the storage portion further comprises: a siphon tubeformed protruding from the bottom of the base, for draining substancestored in the storage portion using a siphon principle; and a siphoncover covering the siphon tube and forming a gap through which theliquid flows between the siphon tube and the siphon cover.
 19. Thewashing machine of claim 10, wherein the siphon cover is disposed on thelower surface of the cap.
 20. The washing machine of claim 18, whereinthe siphon tube has a height lower than that of the overflow wall.